Battery terminal clamp

ABSTRACT

A battery terminal clamp comprises a conductive collar adapted to engage a terminal post, and an integral sleeve extending from said collar and adapted to have a lead electrically connected thereto. A slot is formed in the sleeve and the clamp further includes locking means for reducing the diameter of the collar by closing the slot, so that in use on a battery the collar grips and makes electrical connection to a terminal post of the battery.

United States Patent Jones [451 July 18, 1972 BATTERY TERMINAL CLAMP I f r n Cited 72] Inventor: Richard Clive Jones, Bromsgrove, England UNITED STATES PATENTS [73] Assign: Jmph Lam (Industries) united, Bib 1,230,394 6/1917 Ford ..339/230 R in h E l d 2,577,714 12/1951 Profi... 8 2,682,651 6/1954 Thomas ..339/231 [22] Filed: Nov. 10, 1970 Primary Examiner-Joseph H. McGlynn [21] Appl. No.: 88,366 Auomey-Holman&$tem

{30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABS CT A battery terminal clamp comprises a conductive collar NOV- Great Bl'ltall'l adapted to engage a tennina] post and an integral sleeve extending from said collar and adapted to have a lead electri- 52] [1.8. CI. ..339/225, 339/230 R cally connected thereto. A slot is formed in h lee n t [51] Int. (1 H01;- 11/26 clamp further includes locking means for reducing the diame- 5s 1 Field of Search 339/224-240 the collar by dosins the in use a battery the collar gn'ps and makes electrical connection to a terminal post of the battery.

3 Clain Figure Patented July 18, 1972 3,678,;49

ATTORNEYS BATTERY TERMINAL CLAMP This invention relates to battery terminal clamps.

A battery terminal clamp according to the invention comprises a conductive collar adapted to engage a terminal post, an integral sleeve extending from said collar and adapted to have a lead electrically connected thereto, a slot in said sleeve and locking means for reducing the diameter of the collar by closing said slot, so that in use on a battery the collar grips and makes electrical connection to a terminal post of the battery.

The accompanying drawing is a perspective view of a battery terminal clamp according to one example of the inventron.

Referring to the drawing a battery terminal clamp comprises a generally cylindrical cast lead collar 11 which is formed with an integral, radially extending sleeve 12 which is adapted to receive and make electrical connection to a lead '13. The bore of the collar 11 tapers from a maximum diameter at one axial end of the collar to a minimum diameter at the op posite axial end of the collar, the taper of the bore being complementary to the taper of the battery terminal post with which the clamp is to be engaged.

Y Extending from the inner surface of the collar 11 into the sleeve 12 is an open ended slot 14, the slot 14 communicating with a bore in the sleeve extending transversely to the slot 14. A bolt 15 is received in the bore in the sleeve 12, the bolt extending at its free end from the sleeve and having engaged therewith a nut 16. The bolt 15 and the nut 16 engaged therewith, in use, provide locking means for securing the clamp to a terminal post of a battery. Thus in use, the collar 12 is positioned on the terminal post of the battery and the nut 16 is tightened on the bolt 15. As the nut tightens the slot 14 is caused to close up and the internal diameter of the collar 12 is reduced thereby securing the battery terminal clamp in electrical connection with the terminal post of the battery.

It will be appreciated that other forms of locking means could be used to reduce the diameter of the collar 11 and so serve to secure the clamp to a battery terminal post such as, for example, an adjustable clip extending round the outside surface of the sleeve 12.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A Battery terminal clamp comprising a conductive collar adapted to engage a terminal post, an integral sleeve extending from said collar and receiving, in use, an electrical lead, a slot in said sleeve, the slot communicating at one end of a pair of opposite ends with the bore in the collar and being closed by the sleeve at the other end of said pair of opposite ends, and locking means for reducing the diameter of the collar by closing said slot, so that in use on a battery, the collar grips and makes electrical connection to a terminal post of the battery.

2. A clamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bore of said collar tapers from a maximum diameter at one axial end thereof to a minimum diameter at the opposite axial end.

3. A clamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein said locking means includes a bolt received in a bore in said sleeve, the bolt extending transversely through said slot and having engaged therewith a nut. 

1. A Battery terminal clamp comprising a conductive collar adapted to engage a terminal post, an integral sleeve extending from said collar and receiving, in use, an electrical lead, a slot in said sleeve, the slot communicating at one end of a pair of opposite ends with the bore in the collar and being closed by the sleeve at the other end of said pair of opposite ends, and locking means for reducing the diameter of the collar by closing said slot, so that in use on a battery, the collar grips and makes electrical connection to a terminal post of the battery.
 2. A clamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bore of said collar tapers from a maximum diameter at one axial end thereof to a minimum diameter at the opposite axial end.
 3. A clamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein saId locking means includes a bolt received in a bore in said sleeve, the bolt extending transversely through said slot and having engaged therewith a nut. 